Firstly: We remind Greenlane’s Admin (Allies of the deviants of Ihyaa Turaath, Al-Maghrib Institute etc): Whenever our scholars see the need to mention the names of harmful deviants, we will transmit their verdicts. It will not be abandoned merely based on the assumption that such action will make their followers more attached to them.

Shaikh Saaleh Al-Fawzaan [may Allaah preserve him] was asked about some of those students with a [ورع بارد – an inappropriate or unjustified ‘apprehensive fear’ (1)]- that when when they hear the sincere advisers- among the students or scholars- warning against bidah, the people of bidah and the paths that lead to bidah, and making mention of the reality of what they [i.e. people of bidah] are upon and then refuting them; likewise, [these advisers] would mention some of the names of [those being refuted]- even if they have passed away- due to the trial the people are subjected to through them; and this [warning] carried out for the purpose of defending the Religion, to unveil the deception of those who mix truth with falsehood and those who speak ill of [the religion] in the midst of the people and and thus spread the splitting and differing in the Ummah- they [i.e. those with this inappropriate or unjustified apprehensive fear] would claim that speaking against the innovators and mentioning some of their names is from the forbidden types of backbiting.

Answer: The principle related to this [affair] is about warning against mistakes and deviation, after identifying it as such. If the affair requires making known the name of an individual among the obstinate opponents so that beguilement does not occur through their [affair] – especially those individuals with deviated views or deviation in behavior and methodology, and they are well known among the people and the people have a good opinion of them- then there is no harm in mentioning them by their names and their methodology warned against.

The scholars carry out research in the science of Jarh Wat-Tadeel and then mention the narrators and the reproach stated against them. This is not [done] for the purpose of personal [criticism]; rather it is [done] for the purpose to giving advice to the Ummah in case they come across affairs from these individuals that are harmful to the Religion or lies against the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam].

Therefore, first and foremost, this principle is about warning against mistakes. However, the one who committed such mistake(s) is not to be mentioned if that would either lead to greater harm or if there is no benefit in mentioning him. However, if the affair requires that his name be made known for the purpose of warning the people against his methodology, then this is [considered] to be sincerity to Allaah, His Book, His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk, especially if he [i.e. the one warned against] is active within the people and they have a good opinion of him, and acquire his books and tapes. Then there has to be clarification and the people must be warned, because [employing] silence will be harmful to the people. His affair has to be unveiled, but not for the purpose of defamation or following one’s desires [in that]; rather it has to be [done] for the purpose of sincerity to Allaah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common people. [2]

Al-Allaamah Ahmad Bin Yahyah An-Najmi (rahimahullaah)

Question: This question states: What is your view of the one who warns against bidah and innovators in general but does not hold that names are to be mentioned?

Answer: When something happened, the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) used to say, ‘’what is wrong with a people (who did or say such and such)?!’’ This is correct; but is this said about the leaders of misguidance–those who call the people to affairs of misguidance and the people are put to trial through them? Is this said about them? No; these ones must be mentioned. They must be made known and they must be known, so that the people are cautious about them. As for us keeping quiet about them and saying, ‘’No, we do not mention their names- we neither say Sayyid Qutb nor Hasan al-Banna, neither such and such person nor such and such person”; then with respect to the one who utters this statement, for example: If we were to warn against the people of bidah, then who will be able to say that it is other than these people (i.e. differentiate them from others and that) these are the leaders of ahlul bidah. [slightly paraphrased] [3]

[1] NB: The word [ورع ] translated as ‘apprehensive fear’ was taken from one of Ustaadh Amjad Rafiq’s [hafidhahullaah] articles.

Finally: We remind Greenlane’s Admin (Allies of the deviants of Ihyaa Turaath, Al-Maghrib Institute and other personalities who carry erroneous views etc): Whenever our scholars see the need to mention the names of harmful deviants, we will transmit their verdicts. It will not be abandoned merely based on the assumption that such action will make their followers more attached to them.